The Hand-Me-Down Family (10 page)

“Money isn't everything, Mr. Tyler. Lanny and Julia, for instance, seemed to do quite well on the farm alone.”

A muscle at the corner of his mouth jumped. “Let me put this another way. I'm not Lanny and that's not the life I planned for myself.”

Apparently she'd said something to ruffle his feathers again. No, theirs could never be a simple, comfortable relationship.

Even with the bonds of matrimony.

That unbidden thought brought heat to her cheeks. Luckily, Jack didn't seem to notice.

“If you're worried I'm going to abandon you and the kids, though,” he continued in that tight voice, “you can put your mind at rest. When I go back to doing demolition work, I'll make a point to come back several times a year.”

“I see. In that case, if you're really willing to stay here long enough to teach me how to take care of the place, we could probably make this work.”

One eyebrow went up. “Even if I gave you daily lessons for a month, do you really think you could learn to run the farm by yourself?”

His lack of confidence in her abilities stung. “Julia was a city girl like me and learned to do most of the chores as well as any girl born to this life.”

“But Julia started her learning at age eleven, not twenty-five.”

She refused to back down. “That just means I'll have to work harder, not that I can't learn. And, as Mrs. Mayweather said, we can hire someone to help out a few days a week.”

“So you admit you'll need help.”

She let out a huff of irritation. “I'm not a ninny, Mr. Tyler. I know my limitations. I will freely admit that I'm not capable of caring for the children and a farm on my own.” She studied the back of her hands. “There is one other thing.”

“And that is?”

“I intend to raise these children to know and delight in the teachings of the Bible. You profess to be a Christian, just not the ‘praying sort.' While I don't understand how this can be, I won't attempt to judge you. Each person must wrestle with his beliefs in his own way.” She sat up straighter. “But, while you are here, I ask that you support me in providing the proper encouragement and example to the children. Surely you agree that bringing them up in the Word is important?”

She waited for his nod, then continued. “So you understand that we have a big responsibility before us. As the head of the household, your influence on the children would be strongest. I'd expect you to take part in family Bible readings and to accompany us to Sunday services. And of course we'd say grace at every meal and make certain the children say their prayers when they go to bed at night.”

He didn't say anything at first, and Callie held her breath. Surely he wouldn't balk at such a request, would he? “I believe it's what your brother and sister would have wanted for their children.”

His jaw clenched, but he finally nodded. “You're right. Such things are important in bringing up children.”

Such things were not just for children, but now was not the time to push that issue.

Callie felt a sudden fluttering in her stomach as the import of what they were contemplating sunk in. At some point they had moved from talking about it in abstract terms to figuring out how to make it work.

She gave him a weak smile. “We're really going to do this, aren't we?”

His answering smile held a touch of self-mockery. “It appears so.”

“When?”

“No point putting it off. We can talk to the preacher tomorrow and set a date.”

Not the most romantic of proposals. Callie kept her hands tightly clasped in her lap, trying to remain anchored in this suddenly shaky reality.

Heavenly Father, is this really what You desire for me? Jack is nothing like his brother. Can he truly be the life partner You prepared for me?

She turned to Jack, trying to picture this new turn her life seemed to be taking, trying to see through the emotionless façade he'd erected, to figure out his true feelings. But it was no use. “So what now?”

A hint of her inner turmoil must have communicated itself to him because his demeanor changed and some of the hardness left his face. She was struck again by his ability to set his own worries aside. Here he was, being pushed into a corner, being forced to give up much of the freedom and footloose independence he obviously craved. But he was ready to do it without further complaint.

All for the sake of the children.

He stood and held out a hand to help her rise. “I guess now we tell Mrs. Mayweather that, once again, she was right.”

“W
e have something to tell you.”

Breakfast was over and all three children sat side by side on the parlor settee, looking equal parts apprehensive and curious.

Callie caught her bottom lip between her teeth and risked a quick look Jack's way.

He gave her a barely perceptible nod, but seemed content to let her take the lead for now. Almost as if he were saying this was all her doing so she should handle it.

She turned back to the children, making a point to capture the gaze of each of them in turn. How were they going to react to the news?

Annabeth suddenly sat up straighter, her expression hopeful. “Are we moving back to my house today?”

“Not today,” Jack answered, “but very soon.”

“Then what's the news?” Simon's surly response indicated he wasn't expecting to like whatever it was.

Callie said a silent prayer for the right words and plunged in. “Your Uncle Jack and I had a long conversation last night. We decided we would like for all five of us to live together
as a family. But if we are
truly
going to be a family then we need to start acting like one. So,” she took a deep breath, “the two of us are going to get married.”

Annabeth wrinkled her brow as if not certain what to make of the news. “You mean, just like a real mommy and daddy.”

Simon stiffened. “They're
not
my mom and dad, and no stupid wedding is gonna change that.”

Callie leaned forward. “Oh, Simon, we know that no one can ever take the place of your parents in your heart.” She looked at the girls, including them in the discussion. “But they're up in heaven now and you all need someone to look out for you until you're grown up enough to take care of yourselves.”

She waved a hand in Jack's direction. “And we would dearly love to be those someones.”

Simon leaned back, crossing his arms tightly over his chest. He obviously wasn't taken with the idea.

She tried a different approach. “And that also means you need to start thinking of each other as brother and sisters, not just cousins. How does that sound?”

The girls nodded, but Simon remained closed off.

“Simon, this is especially important for you. You'll need to be a big brother to Annabeth as well as Emma, which means looking out for both of them. Do you think you can manage that?” She held up a hand before he could say anything. “It's a very important responsibility. Don't say yes unless you mean it.”

“Simon already takes care of us,” Annabeth said quickly. “Don't you, Simon?”

Simon nodded. “Don't worry.” He thrust his chin out. “I'll look out for them, same as I've been doing since the fire.”

“When are you gonna get married?” Emma's quiet question gave no hint as to what she felt.

“We're going to talk to Reverend Hollingsford today.” Jack had apparently decided to get involved in the conversation. “If he's agreeable, we'll have the ceremony sometime in the next couple of days.”

“
Then
can we move back to my house?” Annabeth seemed to have a one track mind.

“Yes, we can.” Jack leaned forward. “But it won't be just your house any more, Little Bit—it'll be a home for all of us together.”

There he went again, surprising her by dealing with the children's concerns in a straightforward but sensitive manner.

She gave him a quick smile, then touched Annabeth's hand. “You won't mind that, will you, sweetheart?”

“No.” Annabeth twisted one of her ringlets around her finger. “But do I have to share Cinnamon, too?”

“Cinnamon is all yours,” Callie said. “But it would be nice if you would let Emma and Simon ride him sometimes.”

The child nodded. “I can do that.”

Jack stood. “And since we're all going to be living at the farm, your Aunt Callie and I thought it might be a good idea to take another trip out there this afternoon to start getting things ready.”

Annabeth bounced up and down with excitement. “Oh, yes! And I can visit with Cinnamon and Taffy and Pepper again.”

Seeing the little girl's enthusiasm, some of Callie's uncertainty faded. This might just possibly work.

 

As Jack escorted Callie through town to Reverend Hollingsford's place, he mused over the turn of events. Now that he'd had a chance to sleep on it, this marriage really did seem to be the ideal solution.

If you looked at it right, it gave him the best of both worlds.
He'd be making sure Lanny and Nell's kids were well taken care of, aided by Lanny's hand-picked candidate, no less. And he'd still be free to leave Sweetgum and return to the life he'd so carefully built for himself for the past eleven years.

It wasn't a love match, but that had never seemed to be in the cards for him anyway. The only thing that stuck in his craw was that he would be marrying Lanny's widow, which felt irritatingly like making do with another of his brother's confounded hand-me-downs. But that wasn't Callie's fault and he was man enough to not blame her for that unpalatable piece of this pie.

He could do a whole lot worse, he supposed. That stubborn streak of hers was offset by an unintimidated mettle that was growing on him. And she
was
good with the kids. Add to that the fact that she was going into this with her eyes open and it seemed to be a can't-miss proposition.

“The children appeared to take the news well,” Callie said, interrupting his thoughts.

“No reason why they shouldn't.”

“Simon seems a bit sullen, though.”

The woman sure did like to talk. “He'll get over it.”

They walked on in silence and he hid a grin, wondering how long it would take her to say something.

“How well do you know Reverend Hollingsford?”

Three minutes. “I've known him all my life. He's been the preacher in these parts for nearly forty years. He performed the ceremony at my folks' wedding. And at both their funerals. I guess he'll do the same for me—wedding ceremony, that is.”

She tipped her head to one side. “Sounds like you're surprised.”

He shrugged. “Guess I just never thought that much about getting hitched.” Not in a long time, anyway.

“You mean not since Julia turned you down.”

He paused. So she did know.

When he resumed walking, he'd hopefully erased any emotion from his expression. “Julia wrote you about that, did she?” he asked as casually as he could manage.

“Yes.” Callie gave him a sympathetic look. “She was worried you wouldn't understand and asked me to add you to my prayers.”

“Well, she needn't have worried. I survived.” But it had taken a long time to get over the bitter taste her rejection left in his mouth.

“Did you love her?” The question was soft, almost wistful.

Jack thought back to the boy he'd been. It seemed a lifetime ago. “I thought I did at the time.” He shrugged. “But I was only seventeen. And as it turns out, she loved Lanny.” That was what had stung the most. It had seemed the ultimate betrayal—by both of them.

“Yes, she did. Very much.” She bit her lip and cast him a sideways glance.

He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “Whatever it is, you might as well tell me.”

“It's just, well, it was more than the fact that she loved Leland. It was also that she knew he loved her. And she was fairly certain you didn't.”

Jack absorbed the words as if they had been a body blow. Julia had thought he didn't love her?

“I'm sorry, maybe I shouldn't have said anything.”

She was able to pick up on his moods—he'd have to watch himself around her. “Don't be ridiculous. It was a long time ago. It's not like I've been carrying the torch for her all this time.” Not a torch, but maybe some resentment.

“Of course not.”

Her tone conveyed doubt, but he refused to dwell on the subject further. “There's Reverend Hollingsford's home. Prepare yourself for a boxcar load of questions.”

 

That afternoon, when the buggy turned into the drive that led to the farm, Callie looked at the place with fresh eyes. Yesterday it had been Annabeth's house and the place where Julia once lived. Today it was her soon-to-be home, where she would belatedly start her married life.

Strange what a difference one day could make.

Once Jack had taken care of the horse and wagon, and Annabeth had a chance to say hello to her animals, they trooped into the house.

“First thing we need to decide today is where everyone will sleep,” she announced.

“I already know where I'm going to sleep,” Annabeth said confidently. “In my own room.”

“Well, let's just think about that for a minute.” Callie gave Annabeth an encouraging smile. “Remember how we said we were all going to have to make some changes in order to help us come together as a real family?”

Annabeth nodded cautiously.

“Since there will be five of us living here now, you'll need to share a room with Emma.”

Annabeth shot a quick glance at Emma. “I guess we can put another bed in my room.” There was a definite hint of martyrdom in her voice.

“But the room across the hall from yours already has two beds,” Callie reasoned, “and it's also bigger than yours. Don't you think it makes more sense for you and Emma to share that one and for Simon to have the smaller one?”

Annabeth's lower lip jutted out. “But why does Simon get a room all to himself?”

Jack finally stepped in. “Because Simon is a boy and he's the oldest,” he said firmly.

“But I like my old room,” Annabeth said petulantly.

“I know, sweetie. But you want to do your part to make this work, don't you? And you can bring all your things with you to your new room.”

Annabeth plopped down on the sofa with a grudging huff. “I guess it'll be okay.”

“I don't want a frilly ole girl's room.” Simon, arms crossed over his chest, looked ready for battle.

“Don't worry.” Callie ignored his churlish attitude. “It won't look like a girl's room once we move Annabeth's things out and put yours in.”

“I don't have any stuff.”

Callie felt a pang at this reminder of their loss. That was the real root of the boy's rebellious attitude and she needed to make allowances. “You do have a few things. And you'll get more over time.” She deliberately lightened her tone. “And this way you'll be able to make it into anything you want it to be.”

But Simon didn't return her smile. “I liked living in town. That's where my friends are. And I don't know anything about farm chores.”

“Well, you'll have your sisters to play with here, and you can visit with your friends whenever we go to town. And of course you'll see much more of them when school starts.”

“But it won't be the same.”

She touched his shoulder. “No, it won't. Not for any of us.” She withdrew her hand but gave him a smile. “And I don't know anything about farm chores, either. Your Uncle Jack will have to teach both of us.”

“What if I don't want to learn?”

Jack stepped forward. “You'll do your share of the work around here, whether you feel like it or not. Just like everyone else.” His tone was brook-no-arguments firm.

“And another thing,” he continued. “You'll speak with
respect when you're addressing your Aunt Callie, or any adult for that matter. Understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

Callie sat back and stared at Jack. He'd done it again—employed a firm hand with the children without being overbearing. Just the kind of loving discipline they needed. The fatherly skill seemed to come so naturally to him.

How could a man to whom family was so important not have married before now? Had his feelings for Julia been so strong? Had he been holding out for someone like his first love?

Her pleasure in the day dimmed as she realized he was now settling for her.

 

“My word, Callista dear, you're nervous as a cat who's been tossed in a kennel.”

Mrs. Mayweather's prodigious understatement managed to tease a smile from Callie as they sat side by side at the kitchen table, shelling peas.

It had been a long day. Today's visit to the farm hadn't had the playful, exploratory atmosphere that yesterday's had. They'd spent most of the afternoon moving furniture around, scrounging forgotten pieces from the attic and generally rearranging things, trying their best to satisfy everyone. An impossible task, of course.

In the end, the place likely felt as unfamiliar to Annabeth as it did to the rest of them.

Now supper was over, Jack had returned to the farm, and the children were playing quietly in the parlor.